San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-08-13
REPORTERS AND THE DOCTORS.
Why there is a Breach Between the
two Great Professions.

Why there Is a Breach Between the
two Great Professions.
81 cannot see," said a doctor TO
newspaper man, ''why the papers are so
down upon the doctors, and would like
to know why IL Is, for | observe that
while one section are practically boy
cotted by the newspapers and other sec
tions evidently stand In with them and
their names are frequently mentioned. |
am not disposed to kick, but rs you
understand the matter, ] am anxious To
know what the trouble is
The answer" said the newspaper
man, "is very simple. There are two
Glasses OF doctors In the CITY. Both may
be equally competent, OF that say moth
ing, but one class are gentlemen,
the other quite the reverse. One
set Of men act as gentlemen should
do; they give the reporter all infOrma-
tiOn that can be consistently given, ana
that il OF public interest, where they are
not violating the confidence OF a patient;
the other set stand not upon real, Out
false code Of ethics and snub the re-
pOrters, who In their enquiry have no
personal interest beyond desire 10 fur-
nish the public with good and accurate
news. Let me give an Instance OF what
L UGhU. DOlnt hbo n ~ Wv
izen was injured and the people were
interested In the case. They wanted 10
know all about it, and the actual cOndi-
ton Of the sufferer. The physician in
charge OF the case was naturally
the only man who oould give
authoritive information. The reporter
spent several hours trying to find the
physician, and at last he did so. lie put
his request in q courteous manner, but
was answered, IL haven't time to at
tend to you fellows" but the same ply
sician had time to spend nearly
an hour In saloon, drinking
with brother physicians. or course the
reporter had to write up the matter,
using such information as he had at his
disposal. When the paper appeared
that very doctor took 1t and went around
calling attention to what he called
those damned fool reporters mis-
takes, when, rs matter or TACT, II
any mistake was made, the doctor
was as much 10 blame as the reporters,
for he has snObbishly withheld informs-
ton that should have made the matter
right Many similar cases of this kind
could be adduced. The speaker has had
intercourse with the best physicians Of
England, France and Germany, and al
theoretical, code of ethics, they are
gentlemen and treat accredited report
ers in like manner, giving all news that
can be consistently given. Let the mem
bers of the West Texas Medical associa-
ton do their duty to the public and the
press and they will be treated In the
same cordial manner, but while they act
as some of them are now doing they
they cannot and have no right to ex-
poet the support OF the responsible and
intelligent reporter. When the doctor
is a gentleman, and acts as such, the re-
pOrters are always willing to meet him
upon an equal basis. When he Is an ar
rant snOb then he has no right to the
consideration Of the gentlemanly re-
porter"
The doctor was honorable enough to
admit the accuracy Of the reporters po-
ston, and that they had good reasons
for their complaint. They only regret
ted that some doctors should disgrace
their gentlemanly calling by acting in
manner that was really inconsistent
with their profession.